Amazingly beautiful Variscite stone: facts from history, varieties and excellent photos of the mineral

Mining locations

The first large deposits of variscite were discovered on the American continent and in the German state of Saxony.

The main centers of stone mining today:

• Australia - Queensland;
• Europe – Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Spain;
• America - Brazil;
• Asia – Kazakhstan;
• Russia – Yakutia.

The reserves of the states of California, Utah and Nevada are almost depleted.

Place of Birth

Once upon a time, the mines of America, in the states of Utah and Nevada, were world famous due to the high productivity of gems. Now production has been suspended, as the reserves of natural resources are almost exhausted.

Today, production is carried out in Queensland, which is in Australia. Variscite is actively mined in the adits of South Saxony (Germany), in mines located in Poland and Barcelona. The high quality mineral is produced on the territory of Kazakhstan. Brazil is also famous for its rich deposits of Californian turquoise.

Physico-chemical characteristics

From a chemist's point of view, variscite is a hydrous aluminum phosphate.

The delicate color range of the mineral is created by the variety of proportions of chlorine and iron.

Varieties

Variscite forms many transitional forms with other minerals, primarily with:

• shtangit containing iron instead of aluminum;
• evansite, including hydroxyl ions;
• wavelite, which differs in the amount of water of crystallization;
• planite, which is a basic aluminum phosphate.

Minerals containing these inclusions or solid solutions have their own names:

• Amatrix – intergrowths of variscite with quartz or chalcedony;
• Barrandite is a solid solution containing pink sprentite;
• Bolivarite is a solid solution with white, yellow or blue evansite;
• Ceruleolactite is a solid solution with pale green or greenish-blue planite and white wavellite;
• The bright green rocks from Utah contain chlorine and are called chlorutealite.

Spheroidal aggregates are called spherite, and variscite with a monoclinic system is called metavariscite.

This richness of composition determines the unusually rich range of colors of stones, united by the common name “variscite”.

Varieties of variscite

Of the several varieties of the mineral, the most popular are the following:

• Amatrix. A symbiosis (usually green shades) of stone with quartz or chalcedony. Popular collectible material.
• Spherite. Round turquoise agglomerates with a tint of azure.
• Chlorutealite. Intensely green, but not “noisy” specimens.
• California turquoise . A stone of deep green color.
• Utalit. The green mineral comes from Utah (USA).
• Strengit. Rarely found pink variscite.
• Bolivaritis. An archaic name for green stones with a yellow tint.

By color, stones of a soft blue range, the shade of which changes in different lighting, and red or purple variscite are also distinguished. Both types are sought after by jewelers and collectors, but the red variety is considered the rarest and more valuable.

Colors and varieties

Mineralogists distinguish several varieties of variscite:

• Amatrix is ​​the name given to greenish samples fused with chalcedony or quartz crystals. Such variscite is expensive because its reserves are exhausted. It is practically not found in nature.
• California turquoise is an excellent quality specimen with a delicate or rich turquoise color. This mineral is mined in sunny California.
• Spherite is a round mineral of turquoise-azure color. The shimmer of a spherical stone visually enlarges it.
• Chloryutarite is a rich green crystal, deposits of which are located in the United States.

In ancient burials, archaeologists discovered jewelry made from variscite of the most delicate blue color. Moreover, the shade changes depending on the lighting angle. Also, red and purple gems are considered expensive. Indeed, such samples are no longer found in modern deposits.

Where is the mineral used?

The areas of application of variscite are the sphere of beauty and collecting.

Jewelry

For almost a century and a half, variscite has been in demand as a companion or analogue of turquoise. They often coexist in jewelry. The color variety is also complemented by corals, green quartz, chrysocolla, and howlite.

Variscite decoration

However, large brands do not deal with minerals; this is a segment of single craftsmen. They create a full range of jewelry, framing the mineral with silver, jewelry alloy or cupronickel.

The greenish-gray material is often positioned as “imperial jasper.”

Needlework

There is a wide range of creative materials on the Internet: beads of different shapes, colors and sizes. It is easy to assemble jewelry from them with your own hands. Beads, bracelet, pendant, created according to your own design, will be exclusive.

In the description of an affordable assortment, it is sometimes indicated that this is a pressing or other imitation of variscite.

Collecting

Collectors are offered pristine agglomerates and tumbling variscite from different parts of the world. Mainly from the USA (Utah, Nevada), Russia and Spain.

History and origin of the name

The stone was named after the region of Variscia in Saxony by mineralogist Johan Breithaupt in 1837. The area where the mineral was discovered is called “Vogtland” in German; the scientist who described the mineral chose the Latin name for this area “Variscia”.

This was not the first discovery of a brightly colored gem. Even Pliny the Elder in the 1st century in his “Natural History” wrote that in Catalonia the local population happily wears necklaces, which they make from green stone mined in local mines.

This information is confirmed by modern archaeological science. Excavations near the Gava deposit in the vicinity of Barcelona confirmed that variscite was mined here back in the Neolithic era. Already in the 5th millennium BC, a complex system of mines was created in which ancient Europeans mined the gem and made beads and necklaces from it. These necklaces were found in southern Spain and France, as well as in Italy, from which archaeologists concluded that they served as the equivalent of money.

In Spain, the stone is called peganite (from the Greek “peganon” - “grass”) and spherite for the shape of the stones. The same names have been preserved in Germany. So the question of what name the gem had before it received its scientific name remains open.

Variscite jewelry was also discovered in Britain in ancient Celtic burials. Apparently the Druids have already appreciated it as a powerful talisman. But the color of British variscite was bluish, not green, as on mainland Europe. Apparently the Celts were aware of local deposits.

Stone cost

Russian online stores offer a wide range of variscite jewelry (price/RUB):

• earrings (jewelry alloy) – 670;
• beads (5–8 mm) – 7–20;
• ring (jewelry alloy) – 890;
• suspension – 210;
• set (pendant + earrings, silver) – 2,540;
• bracelet – 550;
• bracelet (silver) – 1,350;
• tumbling (USA, 2.5 – 4 cm) – 170–390.

These are the prices of original works. Manufacturers describe the stone as natural, but world prices are an order of magnitude (ten times) higher.

Jewelry with mineral

Variscite is a soft mineral, so beads and cabochons are made from it. Thanks to its healing and magical properties, the popularity of the gem is growing. For those who want to try on useful and beautiful decoration, a list of the estimated cost of “California turquoise” is provided.

Also read: Angelite - blue angel stone

• They offer to buy a pendant made of natural stone for $17.5;
• price for a string of beads – $30;
• cost for beads made of variscite in combination with agate is $60;
• an unprocessed mineral weighing 380 grams costs $45.

The jewelry mineral is quite rare, so it is of high value. More often, such specimens are found in private collections.

How to identify a fake

Variscite is not very common; the best examples almost always end up in collections.

Under the guise of a natural solid mineral, compressed raw materials, calcite or plastic, are often offered.

It's easy to spot a fake:

• The main feature that helps distinguish imitation is the surface of the mineral. In variscite it has chaotically arranged veins.
• Solid stone is translucent, pressed stone is opaque.
• A toxic blue or cyan sample is almost certainly painted plastic. The color of natural stone is “calm”.
• Price. A bracelet or necklace made of minerals can be bought on the world market for 70–200 euros (5–14 thousand rubles).
• Hold the sample in your hands: rapid heating means plastic.

Earrings from Variscite
You will not find turquoise or jade among fake variscite - they are more expensive.

How to distinguish from a fake

Polished samples of variscite
Since variscite is rare, its imitation or similar stones are sometimes used in jewelry and crafts. You can distinguish a mineral from others by several characteristics:

• if you look at the variscite in the light, it will be slightly transparent;
• its shades are dim;
• the veins are pale, while those of turquoise are dark;
• the mineral is soft; pressing on it with a sharp object leaves a dent.

A chemical analysis of the mineral helps to reliably identify a fake.

Nuggets similar to variscite - turquoise, chrysoprase, chrysocolla, calcite.

Rules of care

Variscite is not particularly durable and is vulnerable to external influences.

You need to care for it carefully:

• Store in a tightly closed box or other dark place.
• Avoid overheating. The box should not be placed near heating appliances or other heat sources.
• The mineral dissolves in acid, so only baby soap or other mild detergents are suitable for washing.
• When cleaning, do not rub the gem too hard.
• Wash jewelry or stones with water at room temperature.

The mineral, used as a magical artifact, actively absorbs energy directed at the owner. Therefore, in addition to physical cleansing, the stone requires energy cleansing. It is recommended to do it twice a month. The procedure is as follows: the gem is washed with running water, then briefly immersed in salted water. Rinse again under running water and leave to dry (preferably in a cool sun).

Caring for stone products

“Soft” gems are best preserved isolated from other minerals. For this purpose, cases with a soft inner surface, covers made of fleecy fabric and boxes lined with velvet are used. And it is also advisable to protect the gem from falls and impacts, since any mechanical impact on it will lead to damage to the stone, in the form of dents, cracks and chips.

The structure of the mineral “does not tolerate” overheating, which can lead to destruction. It is not advisable to dry stone products with a hot stream of air, for example using a hair dryer, or near heating devices. It is better to dry the jewelry naturally, at room temperature or by wiping it dry with a soft cloth.

Also read: Sphene – shining like a diamond

Due to chemical components, the gem may lose color and shine. You can clean jewelry with a gem using a soap solution and running water. It is not recommended to use abrasives and brushes with hard bristles, which are likely to leave marks on the surface.

Important! Try to protect stone products from prolonged exposure to sunlight. Gems react to the color of the sun, which affects the brightness of the shade.

Magic properties

Esotericists say: the magical properties of variscite will be useful to everyone. They operate on many levels.

Magical

For sorcerers, esotericists and other practicing magicians, variscite is important as a channel of access to past lives. They say that by performing the ritual in this way, you can understand the source of problems in your current life and try to eliminate them.

The most powerful magic is found in unframed and unprocessed gems.

Even an ordinary person can find out about his past. It is enough to meditate with a stone in your hand or on your body. Deep immersion can introduce you to layers of primordial knowledge and awaken talents.

Earthly

The properties of variscite are also useful in earthly affairs:

1. Any use (in jewelry or as a talisman stone) guarantees the owner emotional stability and tranquility.
2. The stone makes a person a philosopher, protecting him from deep feelings about shocks or conflicts. Instead, he will analyze them and learn a lesson or benefit.
3. The mineral is indispensable in a problem team or home. He will not allow scandals or quarrels to even arise.
4. The stone helps to achieve prosperity in the financial sphere. The person will find a paid job and open his own business. Or learn to spend money wisely, avoiding impulse purchases.

Even people who don’t believe in magic admit: the power of variscite is powerful and fast-acting.

Variscite is ideal for those who would like to change their life by adding new colors to it. But only in an honest way.

Restrictions

Variscite makes the owner wealthy faster than other minerals. But super-wealth or its acquisition through unjust means are excluded.

The stone develops kindness and empathy in the owner. If a person has different plans and is not ready to be an altruist, it is better to part with the mineral.

Deposits and production

It is not easy to mine variscite, since the caves with it are usually flooded. There are 2 ways to extract the mineral:

• crystalline - mined when the rock is hard;
• kidney-shaped - used when the stone is close to the surface and has a softer structure.

Helpful information

Variscite can form on quartz or chalcedony. The mineral in this case is called variscite quartz or amatrix.

There are deposits of variscite in countries of different continents:

• Australian state of Queensland;
• Brazil;
• Spain;
• Lower Saxony in Germany;
• Poland;
• states of Nevada and Utah in the USA - deposits are almost completely exhausted.

Therapeutic effect

Lithotherapists have identified the following healing properties of the mineral:

1. Opportunity number one is the healing of mental illness. The mineral has a beneficial effect on the state of the central nervous system: it stabilizes and pacifies. Relieves extreme manifestations: psychoses, neuroses. Irritability, tearfulness, and suspiciousness disappear. The consequences of stress, tense or conflict situations are neutralized. The stone brings you out of depression and helps you enjoy life again.
2. Wearing an amulet with a stone relieves phobias of various natures: darkness, confined spaces, heights. This is especially useful for children.

It is recommended to wear a stone if unmotivated anxiety persists.

1. The stone strengthens sleep and puts a barrier to nightmares.
2. Helps to recover after significant physical exertion or chronic fatigue.
3. Prevents emotional burnout at work.
4. Normalizes the condition of the reproductive system, improving libido and the overall quality of intimate life. Helps you get pregnant.
5. A talisman with a mineral is recommended to be worn by children and adults suffering from enuresis.

Beads from Variscite
Treatment of almost all “nervous” diseases is considered the main advantage of Variscite, since this directly affects the general physical well-being of a person.

Healing properties

Variscite is a rare stone, the healing power of which has not yet been fully studied. According to lithotherapists, the healing stone has a high positive energy charge, which gives an amazing effect. The use of gems in the treatment of ailments gives the following results:

• beneficial effect on the nervous system, gives a sedative effect;
• helps control emotions, relieves mental instability, eliminates irritability and tearfulness;
• reduces the risk of depression and apathy;
• strengthens mental state, helps get rid of fears, anxieties, worries and restless sleep;
• helps in the fight against chronic fatigue, which affects most urban residents;
• promotes recovery from severe nervous and mental illnesses;
• improves the functioning of the genitourinary system, restores potency in men;
• promotes rapid recovery of the body after illnesses and injuries;
• accelerates the healing process of open wounds;
• helps restore lost strength after physical and mental stress;
• improves the functioning of the respiratory system, helps cope with asthma attacks and bronchial diseases;
• stabilizes the functioning of the musculoskeletal system.

Also read: Dunite - volcanic rock

Important! The mineral has a strengthening effect on the children's body. Its use in the treatment of colds is beneficial and prevents the occurrence of complications.

Variscite and Zodiac

Astrologers are unanimous: according to the horoscope, the favorite mineral is the Fire element. It is suitable for Aries, Leo, Sagittarius , who want to establish contacts with the right people and establish profitable connections.

The stone will help, but it will “force” you to moderate your own selfishness and arrogance.

Table of compatibility of variscite with zodiac signs (“+++” – fits perfectly, “+” – can be worn, “-” – is strictly contraindicated).

Pisces and Cancers should be careful when contacting the stone. Otherwise, either they will tire you with their caring, or everyone who is not too lazy will sit on their neck.

For other zodiac signs, variscite is more of a decoration.

Zodiac signs

Regarding zodiac signs, for variscite it is easy to determine who it is suitable for. These are all signs of the fire element: Aries, Leo and Sagittarius.

• Aries will be able to establish harmonious relationships in the family and at work.
• Leos will begin to pay more attention to the desires and needs of others.
• He will protect Sagittarius from unwise investments and purchases and give them prosperity.

This stone is absolutely contraindicated for Cancers and Pisces. They may become intrusively caring under his influence, or others will take advantage of their location for their own purposes.

Medicinal properties

Incomplete knowledge of the relatively new gemstone explains the incomplete list of therapeutic indications for wearing it. However, there is still an impact on certain vital functions:

• Thus, a person who adorns himself with variscite has a calmer disposition and balance.
• Having products made from such natural material in their environment, people sleep better and surround themselves with a psychologically healthy microclimate.
• The mineral promotes the spiritual development of the individual, helps to develop and use the internal reserves inherent in nature.
• By controlling their emotions, men become purposeful, and women become soft and restrained.
• There is a positive effect of the stone on the human biofield, making exacerbations of chronic diseases less frequent.
• In childhood, the stone helps relieve anuresis.
• Has a positive effect on the organs of hearing and vision. Normalizes heart rate and helps cope with tachycardia.

Types of stone

Variscite has a complex chemical composition, which is why there are many shades and pattern options. A stone with an azure-turquoise color is called spherite. There is also Californian turquoise - this variety has the maximum resemblance to the popular gem.

The green mineral is called chloryutarite.

Variscite can be various shades of purple and lilac.

A rare find is a red mineral.

The color of the stone can also be purple or pink. The second variety is called strengite.

An interesting variety of variscite is yellow-green in color. It used to be called bolivarit.